Compliance with regulations and standards plays a central role in global trade competitiveness, in particular in the context of global value chains. What are the implications of these instruments for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals? There has been an important shift in the...

Policy makers are increasingly turning to integration and upgrading in global value chains (GVCs) as a means of driving development. How can they ensure that both men and women can access and benefit from GVCs? Picture this: A group of young women, dressed alike in trendy uniforms, step out from a...

How does the entry into force of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in February 2017 affect African countries’ efforts to join and move up global value chains (GVCs)? The WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) provides a new global benchmark for customs and border procedures. Its...

Although international value chains, whether regional or global, are not a new phenomenon, their importance in the global economy has increased tremendously over the last two decades. These geographically fragmented and increasingly complex production networks, often coordinated by dominant...

What are the key knowledge gaps which need to be filled if developing economies are to successfully leverage global value chains (GVCs) to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? An increasing number of people in an increasing number of economies are producing for global export markets. But...

In today’s globalised economy, understanding global value chains (GVCs) is essential for the development of trade and investment. This article presents a number of options on how the global trade system can promote the effective integration and upgrading of countries in these GVCs Today, we live in...

What kind of policy reforms should be undertaken both at the domestic and international levels to support LDCs technological upgrading and innovation for better integration into global value chains? Innovation and technological change have radically altered the economic landscape over the past...

By participating more effectively in the global production of goods and services, Africa can transform its economy and achieve a development breakthrough, according to the latest African Economic Outlook, released at the African Development Bank Group’s Annual Meetings on 19 May. Themed “Global...

By participating more effectively in the global production of goods and services, Africa can transform its economy and achieve a development breakthrough, according to the latest African Economic Outlook, released at the African Development Bank Group’s Annual Meetings on 19 May. Themed “Global...

Although global value chains (GVCs) have existed for decades now, interest in the literature has reignited in recent years, particularly since the global financial crisis. Policy makers have sought to better understand the dynamics and governance of GVCs as well as the opportunities and constraints...

The emergence of Global Value Chains (GVCs) has produced remarkable changes in the pattern of world trade over the past 25 years. Rather than trade in goods that are produced solely at one location and exported to the consumer in another location, production of goods and, increasingly, services...